The Latent Power of Music with Regards to Self-Esteem
Humans are influenced by most everything we are exposed to, on some level. Our interests, behaviors, and how we view ourselves are all based on previous experiences. For example, imagine you are a child and a certain behavior caused your peers to ostracized you from the group. It is very unlikely that you will continue in that behavior, and feeling of being excluded will likely alter your viewpoint of yourself and others. If being outcasted continues over a prolonged period of time your self-image can be damaged to the point that your behavior changes completely and these new behaviors may spill into other aspects of your life.
Much of our behavior, as well as how we view ourselves, is a compilation of what we surmised others thought about us. But this doesn’t always have to be the case. If you have a negative self-image it can be changed. Things like daily affirmations, meeting new people who are better suited to you, and surrounding yourself with positivity can be a great help. We aren’t only what we eat, we are also what we see, hear, feel, and internalize. Music can help by being a fun way to alter the types of messages you are subconsciously internalizing.
Beyond being a potential catalyst to help change the way you think music can also improve things like language development (by introducing listeners to new or different words or ways of speaking), confidence building (having something that is an interest, love, or passion will aid in building confidence as your knowledge and familiarity with the subject matter increases), and varied ways of self-expression. Music is a powerful and multifaceted manifestation of both emotion and the human condition, that can help change the world, one person at a time.